| Case ID |
f9d62943-7c8a-4c32-8915-82fd81b2a25f |
| Body |
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| Case Number |
Suit No. 154 of 1991 |
| Decision Date |
Sep 12, 2001 |
| Hearing Date |
|
| Decision |
The suit for defamation and damages of Rs.10,00,000 was dismissed as the plaintiff failed to establish that the news item published was incorrect or not a fair comment. The court found that the publication was in the public interest and that the newspapers acted as watchdogs, fulfilling their duty to report incidents fairly. The plaintiff's claim of defamation was not substantiated, leading to the dismissal of the suit without any order as to costs. |
| Summary |
In this landmark case, the Sindh High Court dealt with issues of defamation and the responsibilities of media outlets. The plaintiff, Hakim Ali, alleged that the publication of a news item in the daily DAWN tarnished his reputation by suggesting involvement in illegal activities. The court emphasized the importance of fair comment in journalism, asserting that the news published was pertinent to public interest. The judges ruled that the plaintiff could not demonstrate that the article was factually incorrect or maliciously intended. This case highlights the delicate balance between freedom of expression and protecting individual reputations, making it a significant reference point in media law. Keywords such as 'defamation', 'media responsibility', 'public interest', and 'freedom of speech' are particularly relevant in today's legal context, drawing attention to the ongoing discourse around journalism ethics. |
| Court |
Sindh High Court
|
| Entities Involved |
Not available
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| Judges |
ANWAR MANSOOR KHAN, J
|
| Lawyers |
Zameer-ud-Din Ahmed,
Ziaul Haq Makhdoom
|
| Petitioners |
HAKIM ALI
|
| Respondents |
PAKISTAN HERALD PUBLICATION and others
|
| Citations |
2002 SLD 1882,
2002 CLC 784
|
| Other Citations |
Dr. Q.M. Qarni v. Khalil-ur-Rehman and others PLD 1975 Kar 379,
Muhammad Ismail v. Dr. Afzal Mirza 1999 CLC 958,
Hussain Bibi v. Saleh Muhammad PLD 1996 Lah. 50
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| Laws Involved |
Not available
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| Sections |
Not available
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